National Assistive Technology Act Data System
Annual Progress Report - Full Report
Florida 2022
General Information
Statewide AT Program (Information to be listed in national State AT Program Directory)
Lead Agency
Implementing Entity
Program Director and Other Contacts
Person Responsible for completing this form if other than Program Director
Certifying Representative
State Financing
| Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include any State Financing? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include conducting a Financial Loan Program? | Yes |
| Area of Residence | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Metro RUCC 1-3 |
Non-Metro RUCC 4-9 |
||
| Approved Loan made | 45 | 05 | 50 |
| Approved Not made | 02 | 01 | 03 |
| Rejected | 08 | 02 | 10 |
| Total | 55 | 08 | 63 |
2. Income of Applicants to Whom Loans Were Made
| Lowest Income: | $12,732 | Highest Income: | $135,000 |
|---|
| Sum of Incomes | Loans Made | Average Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| $2,198,536 | 50 | $43,971 |
| Income Ranges | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 or Less |
$15,001- $30,000 |
$30,001- $45,000 |
$45,001- $60,000 |
$60,001- $75,000 |
$75,001 or More |
||
| Number of Loans | 07 | 15 | 08 | 08 | 03 | 09 | 50 |
| Percentage of Loans | 14% | 30% | 16% | 16% | 6% | 18% | 100% |
3. Loan Type
| Type of Loan | Number of Loans | Percentage of loans |
|---|---|---|
| Revolving Loans | 44 | 88% |
| Partnership Loans | ||
| Without interest buy-down or loan guarantee | 00 | 0% |
| With interest buy-down only | 00 | 0% |
| With loan guarantee only | 06 | 12% |
| With both interest buy-down and loan guarantee | 00 | 0% |
| Total | 50 | 100% |
| Type of Loan | Number of Loans | Dollar Value of Loans |
|---|---|---|
| Revolving Loans | 44 | $249,318 |
| Partnership Loans | 06 | $113,557 |
| Total | 50 | $362,875 |
4. Interest Rates
| Lowest | 5% |
|---|---|
| Highest | 6% |
| Sum of Interest Rates | Number of Loans Made | Average Interest Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 288 | 50 | 5.76% |
| Interest Rate | Number of loans |
|---|---|
| 0.0% to 2.0% | 00 |
| 2.1% to 4.0% | 00 |
| 4.1% to 6.0% | 50 |
| 6.1% to 8.0% | 00 |
| 8.1% - 10.0% | 00 |
| 10.1%-12.0% | 00 |
| 12.1%-14.0% | 00 |
| 14.1% + | 00 |
| Total | 50 |
5. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Financed
| Type of AT | Number of Devices Financed | Dollar Value of Loans |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | 07 | $19,839 |
| Hearing | 53 | $132,514 |
| Speech communication | 00 | $0 |
| Learning, cognition, and developmental | 00 | $0 |
| Mobility, seating and positioning | 05 | $58,875 |
| Daily living | 00 | $0 |
| Environmental adaptations | 01 | $595 |
| Vehicle modification and transportation | 09 | $126,891 |
| Computers and related | 00 | $0 |
| Recreation, sports, and leisure | 03 | $24,161 |
| Total | 78 | $362,875 |
6. Defaults
| Number Loans in default | 00 |
|---|---|
| Net loss for loans in default | $0 |
B. State Financing Activities that provide consumers with resources and services that result in the acquisition of AT devices and services
1. Overview of Activities Performed
| How many other state financing activities that provide consumers with access to funds for the purchase of AT devices and services were included in your approved state plan? | 0 |
|---|
C. State Financing Activities that Allow Consumers to Obtain AT at Reduced Cost
1. Overview of Activities Performed
| How many state financing activities that allow consumers to obtain AT at a reduced cost were included in your approved state plan? | 0 |
|---|
D. Anecdote
DG, a combat wounded military veteran, lives on a large piece of rural land which he has always had difficulty navigating due to having to use a power chair to get through the rough terrain. FAAST was able to extend a financial loan to him for the purchase of an Action Trackchair, an all-terrain power chair, that opened up a whole new world of freedom for DG. He was able to reach areas of his property that he had not seen in years, enjoy fishing on the small pond and having a new level of independence that was missing from his life.
JE, who has been totally blind since childhood, used the FAAST financial loan program to purchase a pair of Envision glasses to allow him more independence at home and at work. JE works for a local pizza shop and also assists other blind individuals with learning braille. The new glasses provide advanced technology for JE to read easier, understand his surroundings better and be more independent wherever he is.
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 01 | 05 | 25 | 31 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| 4. Subtotal | 01 | 05 | 27 | 33 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 02 | 08 | 10 |
| 6. Subtotal | 01 | 07 | 35 | 43 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 01 | 06 | 07 |
| 8. Total | 01 | 08 | 41 | 50 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 100% | 62.5% | 65.85% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 38 | 76% |
| Satisfied | 04 | 8% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 01 | 2% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 07 | 14% |
| Total Surveyed | 50 | |
| Response rate % | 86% |
G. Notes:
Reutilization
A. Number of Recipients of Reused Devices
| Activity | Number of Individuals Receiving a Device from Activity |
|---|---|
| A. Device Exchange | 01 |
| B. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassign and/or Open Ended Loan | 651 |
| C. Total | 652 |
| Performance Measure | |
|---|---|
| D. Excluded from Performance Measure because AT is provided to or on behalf of an entity that has an obligation to provide the AT such as schools under IDEA or VR agencies/clients. | 00 |
| E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures | 652 |
If a number is reported in D you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance
B. Device Exchange Activities
| Type of AT Device | Number of Devices Exchanged | Total Estimated Current Purchase Price | Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Exchanged | Savings to Consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Hearing | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Speech Communication | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 03 | $552 | $0 | $552 |
| Daily Living | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Vehicle Modification & Transportation | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Computers and Related | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | 03 | $552 | $0 | $552 |
C. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassignment and/or Open Ended Loan Activities
| Type of AT Device | Number of Devices Reassigned/Refurbished and Repaired | Total Estimated Current Purchase Price | Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Sold | Savings to Consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision | 09 | $5,280 | $0 | $5,280 |
| Hearing | 01 | $15 | $0 | $15 |
| Speech Communication | 01 | $30 | $0 | $30 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 03 | $45 | $0 | $45 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 519 | $195,901 | $0 | $195,901 |
| Daily Living | 285 | $30,427 | $0 | $30,427 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 28 | $11,564 | $0 | $11,564 |
| Vehicle Modification & Transportation | 01 | $1,875 | $0 | $1,875 |
| Computers and Related | 07 | $2,400 | $0 | $2,400 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 01 | $40 | $0 | $40 |
| Total | 855 | $247,577 | $0 | $247,577 |
D. Anecdote
Jason is a 38-year-old married man living in his own home. Jason was hit by a car when he was 13yo and his leg was crushed below the knee. He was recently also diagnosed with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). He was unsure what reuse services FAAST provided, he just saw the sign while driving by and decided to stop. His Independent Living Facilitator was able to identify that he needed assistance with mobility. It appeared he was putting all his weight on the cane and that was causing more pain. FAAST was able to provide Jason with a sanitized Quad Cane which immediately made him feel more secure in his movements and he also tried a pair of crutches which he said really took the strain off his arms and hands versus his original cane. The team later provided him with a bariatric rollator with a seat that he was able to rest on and was able to safely rise from the seated position. In a conversation with Jason a few days later he reports that the mobility aids have made a huge difference in his confidence as he feels so much safer and his mobility has improved. Jason stated that FAAST has done more to help him in the past month than any other agency he has looked to. He is very grateful for all that has been given him as well as the guidance and support as he maneuvers his way through the SSDI process.
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 06 | 02 | 612 | 620 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 00 | 00 | 21 | 21 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 00 | 00 | 07 | 07 |
| 4. Subtotal | 06 | 02 | 640 | 648 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 02 | 02 | 04 |
| 6. Subtotal | 06 | 04 | 642 | 652 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 8. Total | 06 | 04 | 642 | 652 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 100% | 50% | 99.69% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 616 | 94.48% |
| Satisfied | 36 | 5.52% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 00 | 0% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 0% |
| Total Surveyed | 652 | |
| Response rate % | 100% |
G. Notes:
Device Loan
A. Short-Term Device Loans by Type of Purpose
| Primary Purpose of Short-Term Device Loan | Number |
|---|---|
| Assist in decision-making (device trial or evaluation) | 934 |
| Serve as loaner during service repair or while waiting for funding | 31 |
| Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation | 407 |
| Conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity | 355 |
| Total | 1,727 |
B. Short-Term Device Loan by Type of Borrower
| Type of Individual or Entity | Number of Device Borrowers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Desicion-making | All other Purposes | Total | |
| Individuals with Disabilities | 376 | 49 | 425 |
| Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives | 212 | 49 | 261 |
| Representative of Education | 52 | 64 | 116 |
| Representative of Employment | 32 | 135 | 167 |
| Representatives of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 245 | 476 | 721 |
| Representatives of Community Living | 07 | 19 | 26 |
| Representatives of Technology | 10 | 01 | 11 |
| Total | 934 | 793 | 1,727 |
C. Length of Short-Term Device Loans
| Length of Short-Term Device Loan in Days | 35 |
|---|
D. Types of Devices Loaned
| Type of AT Device | Number of Devices | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Desicion-making | All other Purposes | Total | |
| Vision | 123 | 136 | 259 |
| Hearing | 30 | 04 | 34 |
| Speech Communication | 212 | 298 | 510 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 101 | 48 | 149 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 168 | 19 | 187 |
| Daily Living | 129 | 83 | 212 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 66 | 64 | 130 |
| Vehicle Modification and Transportation | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Computers and Related | 667 | 361 | 1,028 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 49 | 19 | 68 |
| Total | 1,545 | 1,032 | 2,577 |
E. Anecdote
"We would like to express our gratitude for the assistive technology support received for our 11-year-old son. It has been a difficult and frustrating journey for him, not being able to communicate his needs, wants, and feelings across his environments. Since receiving the loaner AAC device, he has been making so many requests, connecting it with real contexts, and even expressing his feelings. He seems to really get the purpose of it across a range of activities--learning, using it to greet family members on Facetime, and even making jokes! Being able to try out the device is of tremendous value, especially for older kids who may feel even greater frustration as their needs and interests change. We also appreciate the responsiveness of the team evaluators in learning what helps him to become engaged and making recommendations to us as a family that are customized for him. It gives us hope as a family to have a little window into his world and for him to be able to share his world as well. We look forward to making this a part of his every environment. Thank you, FAAST team!" - Parent/Guardian of a Individual with a Disability
F. Access Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 352 | 45 | 392 | 789 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 11 | 04 | 15 | 30 |
| Subtotal | 363 | 49 | 407 | 819 |
| Have not made a decision | 27 | 10 | 31 | 68 |
| Subtotal | 390 | 59 | 438 | 887 |
| Nonrespondent | 14 | 01 | 32 | 47 |
| Total | 404 | 60 | 470 | 934 |
| Performance on this measure | 93.08% | 83.05% | 92.92% | |
G. Acquisition Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 65 | 13 | 27 | 105 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 195 | 25 | 137 | 357 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 71 | 21 | 28 | 120 |
| 4. Subtotal | 331 | 59 | 192 | 582 |
| 5. None of the above | 80 | 19 | 48 | 147 |
| 6. Subtotal | 411 | 78 | 240 | 729 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 47 | 09 | 08 | 64 |
| 8. Total | 458 | 87 | 248 | 793 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 80.54% | 75.64% | 80% | |
H. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 1,479 | 85.64% |
| Satisfied | 134 | 7.76% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 17 | 0.98% |
| Not at all satisfied | 11 | 0.64% |
| Nonrespondent | 86 | 4.98% |
| Total Surveyed | 1,727 | |
| Response rate % | 95.02% |
I. Notes:
Device Demonstration
A. Number of Device Demonstrations by Device Type
| Type of AT Device / Service | Number of Demonstrations of AT Devices / Services |
|---|---|
| Vision | 201 |
| Hearing | 45 |
| Speech Communication | 653 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 195 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 277 |
| Daily Living | 378 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 67 |
| Vehicle Modification and Transportation | 01 |
| Computers and Related | 310 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 74 |
| Total # of Device Demonstrations | 2,201 |
B. Types of Participants
| Type of Participant | Decision-Makers | Other Participants | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 1,385 | 118 | 1,503 |
| Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives | 305 | 204 | 509 |
| Representatives of Education | 74 | 63 | 137 |
| Representatives of Employment | 16 | 24 | 40 |
| Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation | 380 | 312 | 692 |
| Representative of Community Living | 39 | 111 | 150 |
| Representative of Technology | 02 | 00 | 02 |
| Total | 2,201 | 832 | 3,033 |
C. Number of Referrals
| Type of Entity | Number of Referrals |
|---|---|
| Funding Source (non-AT program) | 50 |
| Service Provider | 54 |
| Vendor | 43 |
| Repair Service | 02 |
| Others | 01 |
| Total | 150 |
D. Anecdote
An Occupational Therapist (OT) referred her client to the FAASt Central Regional Demonstration Center located at Tampa General Hospital to explore a variety of assistive technology devices for the kitchen. She had access to a few devices but knew we would be able to demonstrate significantly more items. The consumer had right-sided hemiparesis which made activities around the home difficult. We started in the Aids for Daily Living section where he was successful using a variety of kitchen tools such as the Spill Not Jar & Bottle Opener, Electric Can Opener, and Food Bumper. He mentioned having difficulty with his computer mouse as well so we set aside time to go through the computer lab. We demonstrated the built-in accessibility features such as adjusting the mouse motion, switching primary and secondary buttons, and the single-click feature. He tried multiple adaptive mouse options but decided the Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball would work best. We provided vendor information for the equipment and suggested a follow-up appointment to make sure all his needs were met.
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 601 | 118 | 956 | 1,675 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 04 | 02 | 17 | 23 |
| Subtotal | 605 | 120 | 973 | 1,698 |
| Have not made a decision | 40 | 19 | 412 | 471 |
| Subtotal | 645 | 139 | 1,385 | 2,169 |
| Nonrespondent | 16 | 01 | 15 | 32 |
| Total | 661 | 140 | 1,400 | 2,201 |
| Performance on this measure | 91.53% | 85.71% | 69.5% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 2,494 | 82.23% |
| Satisfied | 516 | 17.01% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 10 | 0.33% |
| Not at all satisfied | 02 | 0.07% |
| Nonrespondent | 11 | 0.36% |
| Total | 3,033 | |
| Response rate % | 99.64% |
G. Notes:
Overall Performance Measures
Overall Acquisition Performance Measure
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 72 | 20 | 664 | 756 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 195 | 25 | 159 | 379 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 71 | 21 | 36 | 128 |
| 4. Subtotal | 338 | 66 | 859 | 1,263 |
| 5. None of the above | 80 | 23 | 58 | 161 |
| 6. Subtotal | 418 | 89 | 917 | 1,424 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 47 | 10 | 14 | 71 |
| 8. Total | 465 | 99 | 931 | 1,495 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 63.88% | 50% | 89.17% | 79.32% |
| ACL Performance Measure | 85% | |||
| Met/Not Met | Not Met | |||
Overall Access Performance Measure
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 953 | 163 | 1,348 | 2,464 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 15 | 06 | 32 | 53 |
| Subtotal | 968 | 169 | 1,380 | 2,517 |
| Have not made a decision | 67 | 29 | 443 | 539 |
| Subtotal | 1,035 | 198 | 1,823 | 3,056 |
| Nonrespondent | 30 | 02 | 47 | 79 |
| Total | 1,065 | 200 | 1,870 | 3,135 |
| Performance on this measure | 92.1% | 84.92% | 75.08% | 81.51% |
| ACL Performance Measure | 90% | |||
| Met/Not Met | Not Met | |||
Overall Satisfaction Rating
| Customer Rating of Services | Percent | ACL Target | Met/Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied and satisfied | 99.23% | 95% | Met |
| Response Rate | 98.10% | 90% | Met |
Training
A. Training Participants: Number and Types of Participants; Geographical Distribution
| Type of Participant | Number |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 2,514 |
| Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives | 1,823 |
| Representatives of Education | 822 |
| Representatives of Employment | 554 |
| Rep Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 2,253 |
| Representatives of Community Living | 925 |
| Representatives of Technology | 05 |
| Unable to Categorize | 1,833 |
| TOTAL | 10,729 |
| Metro | Non Metro | Unknown | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9,250 | 1,082 | 397 | 10,729 |
B. Training Topics
| Primary Topic of Training | Participants |
|---|---|
| AT Products/Services | 8,583 |
| AT Funding/Policy/ Practice | 596 |
| Combination of any/all of the above | 401 |
| Information Technology/Telecommunication Access | 00 |
| Transition | 1,149 |
| Total | 10,729 |
C. Description of Training Activities
Describe innovative one high-impact assistance training activity conducted during the reporting period:
With the assistance and AT expertise of the FAAST South Regional Demonstration Center staff, the mother of a young child with autism and apraxia of speech was able to make an informed decision on the best AAC alternative to support the communication needs of her child. Through detailed device training on LAMP Words for Life and the opportunity to take the device to trial in different environments (i.e. home, school, and therapies)via the Device Lending Library, the family felt sure of their final decision. Thanks to a special grant from the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, CARD, the family and child were also able to acquire their own communication tool. This is a perfect example of how different community organizations can come together to support in the awareness and acquisition of AT for those individuals who need it most.
Briefly describe one training activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:
Regional AT Trainer conducted a FAAST Southwest Regional Demonstration Center AT Transition Training on Nursing Home/Assistive Living Facility Transition, in person, at the Collier Resource Center on 12/16/21. Collier Resource Center staff, CEO and Program Coordinator, Kari Lefort and Marioly Soto, both asked many questions related to general AT products for Nursing Home Transition and the Regional AT Trainer was able to train them by answering all their questions. Regional AT Trainer also trained them on AT funding options and post-secondary transition AT devices as well. They expressed tremendous gratitude for the training and professional development that was provided by short-term device loans. They stated the residents of Collier County will benefit from this program. They planned to provide FAAST marketing flyers to their Collier county clients with disabilities at their walk-in center in Collier County.
Briefly describe one training activity related to Information and Communication Technology accessibility:
D. IT/Telecommunications Training Performance Measure
| Outcome/Result From IT/Telecommunications Training Received | Number |
|---|---|
| IT and Telecommunications Procurement or Dev Policies | 00 |
| Training or Technical Assistance will be developed or implemented | 00 |
| No known outcome at this time | 00 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 |
| Total | 00 |
| Performance Measure Percentage | NaN% |
| ACL Target Percentage | 70% |
| Met/Not Met | Not Met |
E. Notes:
Technical Assistance
A. Frequency and Nature of Technical Assistance
| Education | 00% |
|---|---|
| Employment | 50% |
| Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation | 00% |
| Community Living | 00% |
| Technology (IT, Telecom, AT) | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
B. Description of Technical Assistance
Describe Innovative one high-impact assistance activity that is not related to transition:
Job Assistance Program, Hope Services, is interested in creating a FAAST Regional Demonstration Center for Lake, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties in Florida. This region was historically underserved by our AT program. Hannah Brock and Whitney Doyle met with David Caldas to begin discussions on how to create a regional location to open in October 2022. This partnership would expand FAAST's Service reach and have all regions covered with a demonstration center.
Breifly describe one technical assistance activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:
Florida's Assistive Technology Advisory Council's Interagency Committee is made up of the state agency representatives assigned to the Council. This collaborative committee discussed ways to better support students transitioning from the K-12 system with their assistive technology. The Interagency Committee agreed to create transition-specific marketing materials in collaboration with the agencies represented (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Division of Blind Services, Department of Education, and CareerSource Florida). This task was added to the Strategic Plan 2020 and noted to be completed by September 2023.
C. Notes:
Public Awareness
Public Awareness Activities
Public Awareness Narratives
Describe in detail at least one and no more than two innovative or high-impact public awareness activities conducted during this reporting period. Highlight the content/focus of the awareness information shared, the mechanism used to disseminate or communicate the awareness information, the numbers and/or types of individuals reached, and positive outcomes resulting from the activity. If quantative numbers are available regarding the reach of the activity, please provide those: however, quantative data is not required.
1. In the fiscal year 2021-22, FAAST Staff attended various conferences, exhibits, and community events to help spread the word about FAAST, assistive technology, and other available resources. One example of the events attended by FAAST Staff was a visit to the Florida State University College of Business. AT Specialist, Marquesas Blimes shared a presentation on FAAST's empowering AT technology and unique mission, the important part we play in the state of Florida and across the country with our network of AT programs. Demonstrated both high-tech and low-tech devices and how these items contribute to employment, independent living, wellness, and quality of life.
2. In the fiscal year 2021-22, FAAST Staff attended various conferences, exhibits, and community events to help spread the word about FAAST, Assistive Technology, and other available resources. One example of the events attended is Executive Director, Whitney Doyle, who presented the "FAAST Information and Services" PowerPoint to the Florida Developmental Disabilities' 2021 Partners in Policymaking group. There were 27 people in attendance.
Information And Assistance
| Types of Recipients | AT Device/ Service |
AT Funding | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 2,278 | 338 | 2,616 |
| Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives | 754 | 152 | 906 |
| Representative of Education | 514 | 72 | 586 |
| Representative of Employment | 154 | 20 | 174 |
| Representative of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 823 | 73 | 896 |
| Representative of Community Living | 557 | 71 | 628 |
| Representative of Technology | 86 | 04 | 90 |
| Unable to Categorize | 102 | 51 | 153 |
| Total | 5,268 | 781 | 6,049 |
Referral Types:
In the Fiscal year 2021-22 our strategic plan focused on launching a fully rebranded Website, Branding, and Social media to improve our outreach across Florida in October 2021. We contracted with Bella Business Solutions to create, maintain, and promote our branding to engage the public with our organization. We also expanded our demonstration centers to reach more of Florida. Starting in October, we launched 5 new demonstration centers around Florida and in January we launched 2 additional demonstration centers. For the Fiscal Year, we had a total of 11 demonstration centers in local nonprofits to help improve our reach of Florida from 6 regions to 11 regions. This increase in access points around Florida created more referrals from community partners that had worked with the organizations prior to being a FAAST RDC. These nonprofits are comprised of Centers for Independent Living, Universities, and a Hospital
Referral Sources:
Our Regional demonstration centers focus on community outreach in their respective region of Florida. Creating partnerships with local organizations, Support groups, professionals, schools, and many more. These local partnerships create referrals to the local centers and generate awareness of FAAST, Assistive Technology, and other related resources. At the Statewide level, The FAAST Headquarters staff attend statewide conferences to spread awareness and provide information and assistance to individuals, their families, and professionals. This awareness helps build partnerships and spread the word about FAAST through word of mouth. Based on the data from Fiscal year 2021-22, approximately 27% of our total refeerals came from Centers for Independent living, 10% from education, 6% each from State AT Website, Other Websites, and in person outreach.
Notes:
Coordination/Collaboration and State Improvement Outcomes
Overview of Coordination/Collaboration Activities
| Coordination/Collaboration activities are not required. You may report up to two MAJOR coordination/collaboration activities for this reporting period. How many will you be reporting? | 1 |
|---|
A. Coordination/Collaboration
1. As concisely as possible, describe the partnership initiative. What activities/services were provided? Who are the major collaborating organizations and what is their role? Who is served/benefited? What funding was used to implement the initiative?
FAAST expanded its Regional Demonstration Center program from 6 locations to 11 in FY 2022. The expansion was part of FAAST's three-year Strategic Plan to improve equity amongst FAAST service by ensuring more geographical locations in Florida are being served. New partners hosting Regional Demonstration Centers are CIL Jacksonville, CIL of North Central Florida, CIL of Central Florida, CIL of Broward, and CIL Gulf Coast. Services provided by Regional Demonstration Centers (RDCs) are information and assistance, device demonstrations, device training, and short-term device loans. These new RDCs expanded FAAST's outreach to rural counties. Federal and state AT Act funding were used to support these new RDCs.
2. As concisely as possible, describe the measurable results of the initiative and any lessons learned. How did access to AT change as a result of the coordination/collaboration/partnership? How did awareness of AT change as a result of the partnership? How did the reach of the state AT program change as a result of the partnership? What made the partnership successful? What would you change or wish you had done differently? Provided funding/resources are available, will the initiative continue or is this a one-time event? What advice would you give for replication of the initiative? Please include URL for initiative if available.
FAAST was able to provide roughly 2,000 additional AT services to Floridians. Onboarding new RDCs was a challenge. The last time a new RDC was added was in 2015 and none of FAAST's current staff were a part of that process. FAAST headquarters' staff underestimated the number of hours needed to bring a new partner up to speed on AT services. Many of the new partners took four quarters before they were fully delivering the number of services assigned to them. More Floridians had access to AT services as a result of nearly doubling the number of locations providing our services. Because new partners were Centers for Independent Living (CILs), this created a stronger collaboration between FAAST and the IL network in Florida. Awareness was increased not just among the clients served, but also among CIL staff. Before this expansion, FAAST was mostly serving six metro areas in Florida: Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami; with the entire southeast portion of the state being underserved. New RDCs were established in Gainesville, Lakeland, Ft. Lauderdale, and Ft. Myers. The partnerships were a success due to the diligence of both FAAST and CIL staff. These teams were dedicated to serving Floridians who have disabilities and worked to ensure that AT services were provided in their area. There was a discussion at the AT Advisory Council level to roll out new RDC partnerships over multiple years. It was determined that doubling the RDCs at once was the best way to take advantage of budget opportunities and staff time. Though FAAST underestimated the time needed to onboard, it was an exercise worth repeating for any programs interested in expanding. FAAST was funding the RDC program for 6 RDCs at $90,000 each, with the same amount of services provided at each location. To invest in the expanded model, FAAST reallocated an additional $76,000 in its annual budget to support the expansion. The total RDC program budget went from $540,000 to $616,000. This amount was then divided among RDC locations based on the population of people who have disabilities living in each county in their services area based on the ACS 2019 data. This model is set to continue, with the hopes of expanding to additional locations when more funding can be achieved.
3. What focus areas(s) were addressed by the initiative?
Other: Rural access to services;
4. What AT Act authorized activity(s) were addressed?
Device Loan; Demonstration; Training; Information & Assistance;
Overview of State Improvement Activities
| State improvement outcomes are not required. You may report up to two MAJOR state improvement outcomes for this reporting period. How many will you be reporting? | 01 |
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B. State Improvements
1. In one or two sentences, describe the outcome. Be as specific as possible about exactly what changed during this reporting period as a result of the AT program's initiative.
FAAST updated Florida Statute 413.407. This statute establishes the Assistive Technology Advisory Council in Florida and names it as the Board of Directors for FAAST. Language in this statute was not current with the AT Act of 2004. Changes in F.S. 413.407 included mirroring the composition of the AT Advisory Council, moving from Co-Chair leadership to one Chair, and giving the Council the ability to fundraise.
2. In one or two sentences, describe the written policies, practices, and procedures that have been developed and implemented as a result of the AT program's initiative. Include information about how to obtain the full documents, such as a Web site address or e-mail address of a contact person, but do not include the full documents here. (If there are no written polices, practices and procedures, explain why.)
Florida Statute 413.407: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0400-0499/0413/Sections/0413.407.html#:~:text=413.407%20Assistive%20Technology%20Advisory%20Council,for%20persons%20who%20have%20disabilities.
3. What was the primary area of impact for this state improvement outcome?
Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation
Additional And Leveraged Funds
| Did you have Additional and Leveraged Funding to Report? | Yes |
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A. Leveraged Funding for State Plan Activities
| Fund Source | Amount | Use of Funds | Data Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Appropriations | $191,593 | Device Loan | True |
| State Appropriations | $28,847 | Reuse | True |
| Private | $1,271 | Public Awareness, I&A | True |
| State Appropriations | $115,618 | Training | True |
| Private | $46,996 | Public Awareness, I&A | True |
| Private | $206 | Technical Assistance | True |
| State Appropriations | $51,474 | Demonstration | True |
| State Appropriations | $12,186 | Technical Assistance | True |
| State Appropriations | $6,156 | Technical Assistance | True |
| State Appropriations | $44,696 | Public Awareness, I&A | True |
| Private | $70,428 | Device Loan | True |
| Amount: $569,471 |
For any leveraged funding reported above for which data could not be reported, please describe the extenuating circumstances that precluded data from being reported and efforts to remediate the situation in future reporting periods.
$46,996 was received from a grant from the University of Miami. The funds for this program were used to create StepUpAT.org, a public awareness platform for the "Step Up AT" program hosted by the University of Miami through a grant from the US Department of Education. Step Up AT is an evidence-based customizable program that coaches teachers, teacher assistants, teacher support specialists, school districts, and other agencies to adopt evidence-based assistive technology (AT) practices shown to improve early literacy outcomes for young children (ages 3-5) with disabilities. The remaining private funding of $1,477 for public awareness and technical assistance is from a grant from the Craig H Neilsen Foundation. Because these funds were only used for public awareness and TA activities, they were not used as examples in the public awareness section reported in this APR.
B. Public Health Workforce Grant Award |
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All Section 4 AT Act grantees were awarded $80,000.00 in supplimental Public Health Workforce grant funding to increase the full-time equivalent (FTE) of staff withing the disability and aging network for public health professionals. Please document the status of these funds below. |
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C. Describe any unique issues with your data in this section (e.g., the reason why you were unable to report the number of individuals served with additional or leveraged funds).
Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance . Saved: Tue Feb 14 2023 16:28:43 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time)